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Monday, March 31, 2003

Auction, sales collect $4,000 for PHS band

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., March 31, 2003 -- Pecos Eagle Band Boosters collected over $4,000
through the sale of different items this past Saturday during the Annual
Pecos Eagle Band Boosters Auction at the Pecos High School band hall.

"We did really well, thanks to the community," said Band Booster President
Norma Wentworth of the eight-hour auction, which began at 10 a.m. and ended
at 6 p.m.

"We sold a lot of items," said Wentworth. "We had some certificates left
at the end, but the students that were helping us bid on them and some we
just gave out for helping us," she said.."

Along with the auction, the group held a barbecue plate sale and a bake
sale.

"Things went great there, too," said Wentworth, as the plate sale brought
in $426 and the bake sale netted $250.

"All together we raised $4,000," said Wentworth. "We were really pleased
with the way things went Saturday," she said.

Band director Merle Lenfest was auctioneer, and Scott Bostwick manned
the cameras for this year's event.

"Wal-Mart gave us $700, they have really helped us a lot throughout the
year," said Wentworth.

Wentworth said that the group still has calendars for sale. "We have
some that have the band members from last year for $5 and the new band members
for this year for $10," she said.

Wentworth added that the great thing about the calendars is that you
can take off the picture and put it on a frame.

"Bertha Natividad is in charge of those calendars, if anyone is interested
in purchasing one," she said. To purchase a calendar individuals can call
the band hall at 447-7218.

Proceeds from the fundraiser go towards the annual scholarship given
to a high school band senior member and towards other band activities.

Gang suspect jailed by police

for November armed robbery

By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., March 31, 2003 -- The Pecos Police Department has arrested a
19-year old Pecos man in connection with a robbery of an Eddy Street convenience
store that happened back in November.

Lt. Kelly Davis said Lee O. Varela was arrested at the Reeves County
Jail for aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony on Friday.

"He was arrested at the Reeves County Jail where he was already in jail
on a weapons charge," Davis said.

Varela is a suspected gang member, Davis added.

According to the report by police, Varela, along with Albert Contreras
Jr., 20, Alex Plasencia, 19, and Jose Sauceda, 19, were all arrested at 7:19
p.m., on March 22 at the corner of Yucca and Eddy Street after being stopped
on a traffic violation. Varela, Contreras and Sauceda were all arrested
for unlawfully carrying a weapon - Class A. Plasencia was also arrested
for unlawfully carrying a weapon - Class A and on a Reeves County Sheriff's
Office warrant for open container violation.

The robbery occurred on November 11, at 12:44 a.m., at the Allsup's in
the 2200 block of South Eddy Street, where a clerk advised that a male suspect
entered the store with a crome semi-automatic gun wanting the money in the
cash register.

"He got the money and left," Davis said. "He made out with maybe $100."

He later added that the gun that was recovered during the traffic stop
is believed to be the same one as the one used during the robbery.

"We believe we have the gun," Davis said. "It is the same gun from the
weapons charge."

He added that since the charge is a first-degree felony, Varela could
have as much as a life sentence in prison. However, the eventual sentence
if Varela is convicted could be lower.

"The charge is based upon the danger to a human's life," Davis said.
"Pointing a gun at someone is dangerous because guns hurt people."

Board weighing FLH status, after hearing USDA report

By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., March 31, 2003 -- Pecos Housing Authority and Farm Labor Housing
board members listed to a presentation by John E. Perkins on the status
of the farm housing in Pecos, and later discussed the future management
plans for the farm housing complex, during the board's monthly meeting on
Thursday at the PHA offices on Starley Drive.

Perkins, a community development specialist with the U.S. Department
of Agriculture's Rural Development area office in Fort Stockton, presented
the board the results of his inspection of the Farm Labor Housing, both
to the apartments themselves and in the operation of the program. Those
included fixing shingles and repainting the apartments, along with stabilizing
the soil in the area of the FLH housing, updating the FLH management plan,
documentation of efforts to rent to eligible farm laborers and charges for
washers and dryers at the apartments' laundry.

"I can continue to give permission to rent to ineligibles after the farm
season, so long as you continue to make efforts to rent to farm workers,"
Perkins told the board. He also added that he could help FLH file for a
grant to pay for some of the housing repairs, and board chairman Frank Perea
said the item would be put on the group's April agenda.

However, at the end of the meeting, board members also discussed whether
or not they wanted to continue managing the FLH apartments under the current
arrangement.

"I need it explained to me how we're going to operate," said board member
Jim Workman, while board member John Garza said, "There's no need to discuss
the issue of grants and loans until the issue of management is taken care
of."

Garza said one of the management items involved putting and FLH employee
on-site 24 hours a day to handle any problems that come up. But he added,
"Anybody that lives of there is going to need money. We've tried it before
(Executive Director Nellie Gomez) got here."

Gomez currently serves as both FLH and PHA manager, but has told the board
she wants to give up her job overseeing the farm housing apartments.

Workman said due to the decline in agriculture workers during the summer
months in the Trans-Pecos area, farm workers usually occupy the Farm Labor
Housing for only about two months out of each year.

"Is it worth (housing workers) 45 days a year for this?" he asked. "I'd
like to see it come back up, but agriculture's pretty much gone. We have
the dairies coming in, but they don't need that many people."

Workman asked that the item be placed on executive session for the April
FLH meeting, but Perea said he didn't know if under state law the subject
could be discussed behind closed doors.

"Let's talk to (attorney Scott) Johnson and see what he says," Perea said,
while Gomez later suggested the item be placed on a special meeting agenda
for the board sometime between now and the April meeting.

Board members also approved the 2002 end-of-year reports and the 2003
budget submitted by Gomez. She said the FLH expected to take in about $45,000
from apartment rentals, out of a potential $132,000 if the apartments were
rented year-round. During the monthly reports portion of the meeting, she
added that there are 54 apartments available this summer for migrant workers.

In the PHA portion of Thursday's meeting, Gomez said she had just gotten
the drawing for plans to put new fences and sidewalks in on the South Side
Apartments, while Reeves County Judge Jimmy Galindo has agreed to provided
county crews to work on repaving work, once temperatures get warmer.

Gomez said the county had helped with similar work last year on the East
Side Apartments, saving the PHA $125 per day in equipment rentals.

She also said the PHA got a score of 92 out of 100 in a recent physical
plant inspection.

The board also approved a request by Gomez to update the PHA's Public
Housing Policy. "We haven't upgraded administrative policies or housing
policies since '98, so now it's time," she said.

Gomez said The Nelrod Company, a Fort Worth-based advisory firm for housing
authorities, had helped draw up the policy, and it had been approved by
Johnson.

Board members were told the PHA apartments have four vacancies as of
now, "but all have been assigned," Gomez said. "We had 15 vacancies in January
when we went up with the rents, so we've been really busy getting those
apartments ready for move-ins."

She also said her staff would be in Odessa on April 6-9 for a management
training session. In response to a question by Garza, Gomez said that someone
would be at the PHA office each day while the conference was taking place.

Gomez also asked for approval to attend a Nelrod conference on Public
Housing in New Orleans on May 22-23. The conference is open to both housing
authority commissioners and administrators. "They're real good at keeping
up-to-date with all the policies," she said.

No decision was taken on the New Orleans trip, which Gomez said would
replace a trip to Galveston for a conference of housing-related issues.

Hospital board cancels election, OKs health plan

PECOS, Mon., March 31, 2003 -- The Reeves County Hospital Board held a
short, regular monthly meeting last Tuesday, in the Classroom to approve
the order of cancellation of the elections.

"The main thing is that there will be no elections," Administrator Robert
Vernor said. "We only had one candidate from each precinct."

Current board chairman Linda Gholson is the only candidate for the Precnict
2 seat on the hospital district board, while Pablo T. Carrasco was the only
person to file for the Precinct 4 seat, currently held by Hugh Box.

Vernor said that the board also approved the personnel pay leave for
the employees and the renewal of the employee health insurance.

"The renewal of the employee health insurance is a self funded plan with
Blue Cross," Vernor said.

He also said that they sold property located at 611 S. Elm.

PHS softball team reschedules game for this afternoon

PECOS, Mon., March 31, 2003 -- The Pecos Eagles' softball game against
Presidio has been rescheduled for today at 5 p.m., after Friday's game
was postponed due to freezing rain and snow in the Trans-Pecos area.

Skies cleared in time for Pecos' baseball team to play Fort Stockton
at home on Friday, but the decision to cancel the girls' game was made earlier
in the day because of the longer drive for Presidio to Pecos.

Hospital preparing for 16th annual Health Fair

By JENNIFER GALVAN
Staff Writer
PECOS, Mon., March 31, 2003 -- The Reeves County Hospital will have more
exhibitions and displays on Saturday, when the hospital hosts its 16th Annual
Health Fair, according to Nancy Ontiveros.

"We are still working on some last minute things," said, Ontiveros, Director
of Program Development/Community Services for the hospital. "We are very
excited about the blood package."

The blood package, which usually costs about $425, will be done at a
cost of only $20 and without a doctors order, at the Health Fair to be held
on Saturday from 8 a.m. till 2 p.m.

"The blood package includes about 50 different of assessments," Ontiveros
said. "It assesses the body for every type of problem."

The results of the blood work will then go directly to the patient, she
added.

She added that the people who came in for blood work could enjoy a pancake
breakfast, which will be provided by the Downtown Lions Club. Lunch will
be provided by the Dietary Department.

"We will have some new services as well," Ontiveros said.

According to her, local optometrist, Dr. Russell Subia will have an exhibition
for the testing of cataracts and glaucoma, Dr. Deli will have a display
on diabetes and prenatal and obstetrical care.

"The Citizens Police Academy will be having a variety of displays," Ontiveros
said. "They will fingerprint and ID kids, teach about gun safety and give
out gun locks for those who have guns."

Another display will be provided by the Permian Basin Company Foot Assessment
that determines whether someone steps incorrectly and then corrects it to
reduce any problems one might have.

"The Reeves County Hospital Surgery (Department) will also have a display,"
Onitveros said. "Because of the increase of colon cancer in our community
we want to bring in awareness."

She said that the display would include the equipment used, the screening
information and a video on the process.

"One special display will be put on by Bessie Haynes," Onitveros said.
"They will be doing care packages for our soldiers. A list of the items
they will be needing can be picked up at Bessie Haynes Elementary, the Pecos
Enterprise and several other locations."

She added that the majority of the displays will be free to the people
but those participating in the blood package must pick up a registration
from at the business office or during pre-registration on Friday from 3
p.m. till 6 p.m. in the hospital lobby.

"The registration is only required for those participating in the blood
work package.

For more information people can call 447-3551 ext. 350 or 242 or the Pecos
Chamber of Commerce at 445-2406.

Pecos-area military personnel

Listed below are the names of service men and women from our community
who are serving in our nation's Armed Forces. We ask that you keep our brave
military personnel in your thoughts and prayers.

Everyone is asked to wear yellow ribbons and fly their American flags
to show their support for our troops. Pray for their speedy and safe return
home.